The Afghan Martyrs — Page 20
him, would come. The second advent of Jesus Christ (PBUH) was also to occur in exactly the same way. There is no precedence for an alternative appearance, that is why Imam Maalik, Imam Ibne Hazm, Imam Bukhari and some other great Imams held views identical to mine. However, the common folk always want to believe in strange phenomena. They are not conversant with this issue i. e. proximity to the Almighty. The theory that Jesus Christ (PBUH) will descend from Heaven in his physical form has become embedded in their minds. They seem to believe that when Jesus (PB UH) descends from above he will be riding a chandelier of fire and it will be a day of great festivity. One will hear slogans of 'Here he comes. Here he comes. ' This concept is not in accord with the normal Divine practice. If the prophets were to descend in this manner and if the Omnipotence of the Almighty was to be exhibited in this manner, faith in the unseen would become a joke. Those who believe that Jesus Christ (PBUH) is alive in the Heavens are surely mistaken. There is repeated mention of the passing away of the Messiah (PBUH) in the Holy Quran. The Hadeeth of Meraaj which has been related five times by Imam Bukhari affirms that the Messiah (PBUH) was amongst those prophets who had passed away. How then can he be alive? The belief that the Messiah (PBUH) is alive is contrary to the Holy Quran and Hadeeth. Again the verse, "but since Thou didst cause me to die, Thou hast been the Watcher over them," ( 5: 118) proves that the Christians distorted their beliefs after the death of Jesus (PBUH) and certainly not during his life time. If we accept that Jesus (PBUH) is still alive we will necessarily have to agree that the Christian doctrine is a misinterpretation. We know very well that this is not the case. 20